Fruit cutting and pitting machine



EXASLSB@ Aug. 14, 1923.

' J. TURNER FRUIT CUTTING AND FITTING MACHINE Filed July l, 1922 4Sheets-Sheet l haar..

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INVERNO@ Aug. 14, 1923.

J. TURNER FRUIT CUTTING AND PITT-ING MACHINE Filed July l,

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FIGUREZ Aug. M, 1923.. l'f

J. TURNER FRUIT CUTTING AND FITTING MACHINE ATTORNEY ug. 14, 1923. Ll@

J TURNER FRUIT CUTTINGAND FITTING MACHINE Filed July l, 1922 4Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGURE 7 FBSURE 6 FIGURE 9 INVENTQR TTORNEY TURNER, OFCAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA.

ritrae raurr orrrrrnel .Linn rrrrine MACHINE.

I applicati@ fue@ any 1, 1922. sei-iai No. 572,260.

Tofall wlw-m it may concern; p Y

I Be it known that L'JAMns; TURNER, a citi; Zenof thejUnitedStates,andresident fof Campbell, in the county of Santa Clara and State ofCalifornia, have inventedvv certain new and useful Improvements in FruitCutting and Pitting Machines,l of which the *following isfaspecification. y .Itis the object of my invention toA provide aV poweroperated mechanism for cutting Y and pitting apricots and similar fruit.

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In the drawings Figure 1 is a side .elevation of my invention, partsbeing broken away.`

Figure 2 is anend view of the same, parts being broken away.l Y Figure 3is a transverse 'cross section on line 3 3 ofFigure 2; l .1F igure 4f isa plan 4viewof the pinion and rack, partly in section taken on line 1 4ofFig'ure2. Y A

Figure 45 is a plan YView of the upper cam surface. f Y

.Figure 6 is a side elevationshowing the carriage aboutit@ be placed ina position to open'the lingers to receive an apricot, parts beingfbrokenaway. V L y Figure 7is a plan view, partly'in section, showingone oftherevolving shoes turning in its guidemembers, parts. being brokenaway. e p ,Fi'gure 8 is a plan view, partlyin section, showing ftheknifeholding mechanism. v

i Figure 9 isfanelevatiompartly in section, showing the spring membersYabout to remove the pitfrom thefruit shownin dotted lines. A n A`Referring more particularly to the drawinfrs I show a framework comrising u b 7 i y b.

rights 1 1 1 1, transversely arranged .tie members "2 2 2 2 andlongitudinal tie members 3 3 3 3;, y A y The mechanism built up on thisframe is in two almostidentical partsgan upper part includingv fruitHgrasping fingers mountedV to reciprocate adjacent to and parallel withthe;longitudinalfaxis of the in detail and theseveral parts designatedby suitable. .figures, the corresponding partsl Vspaced guides havingtherein. At 6 6 are T shaped bars slidably machine, and a, lower partfunctioning` in the same manner` and in unisonv with t e upper part butin` opposed relation thereto. ASincethe mechof the lower part beingindicated by similar ligures followed by an appropriate letter.

In the embodiment of the machine herein disclosed I show at 4 4 a pairof parallel grooves 5 5 formed engaging grooves 5 5 and carrying asecondary frame comprising uprights 7 cross bars 8 and longitudinal bar9, the two bars 6 6 being connected at their rear ends by a cross bar 10and to the corresponding slidingbars 6a 6 in the lower part of themachine by bars 11 so that by attaching a power operated arm as 12 tobar 10 the two sets of slidable bars 6 6 and 6a---6a and all partscarried by them may be reciprocated as' a unitary structure.` f

VMounted on front and rear top cross tie members 2 2 are two bars 13 13arranged to form a guide 14 extending longitudinally of the machine,sections as 15 16 being cut out of said bars for the purpose hereinafterset forth. Pivotally mounted at 17 and forwardly of openings 15--16 is aplate 18 having a groove 19 formed therein in alignment with guide 14and terminating in an annular opening 20, the said plate having itspivotal end raised a distance above guide 14 and extending inwardly ofthe machine a distance in a horizontal plane and thence sloping down tocontact with the bars 13 13 so that groove 19 forms a continuation ofguide 14e.

At a suitable distance above guides i- 4 and passing longitudinally ofthe machine within secondary frame 7 8 9 are two parallel bars 21 21supported 'at each end on tie members 2 2 of the main frame. These barssupport cam tracks 22-22 a distance back from the forward end of themachine and directed forwardly thereof, and a t rack 23 positioned asshown between the cam tracks 22 22 and the axis of the annular openingin plate 18. Also mounted on bars 21 21 forwardly of cam tracks 22-22and adjacent rack 23 are short tracks 24e-24: as shown.

Mounted in a horizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis ofthe machineare knives 25-25, each knife being arranged between twoplates as 26-26`and resiliently mounted by means'of a spring 27, securedat a central point and bearing' against the knife atboth ends wherebythe knife will give way angularly at either end -formedin the caniportion of the plate and in the central part thereof.` :it 32 is shownaspring` member mounted. on the under surfaceoif' plate 30 normallyextending' forwardly and' downwardly a distance and thence upwardly adistance and terminating); in a rounded point 33 `just below thenotehviil. .rit 34 is a pin carrying a spreader arm 35 contacting withthe under surface of springmember S2 and provided with an arm'SGextending` through notch 31 in plate 30. Arm 3G. is so arranged thatVwhen thrown backwardly distance the spreader 35 engages spring` 32 andforces L its point 83" a slight distance Athrough notch 31 whereby toengage the pit in a halved apricot and extract it from the same.

The sliding' bar 6 adjacent arm 36 cai ries a pin 38 in such a positionas to engage armV 36 at the proper moment when the halved fruit isbeing` carried over cam plate 80; Arm 3G being` short the pin 38 willcarry itback and then pass over it, whereupon the spring '32 will returnit to its normal position Having' now described the more station-` aryparts of the machine I will describe in detail the parts carried by thesliding bars 6--6 .and secondary frame 7--8-9 carried thereby. Y

Revolubly mounted in'vertically aligned orifices 39-40 in secondaryframe .'7--8-9 is a tube' 41 having` a rod 42slidably mounted thereinand revolving' therewith by meansofa; pin 43 in rod 42 and slot 44 intube 41, the rod 42havinr` a button 45 on its upper end anda spreaderplate llf3-mounted on its lower end.

Tube 41 carries a shoe 4T on its upper end, the said shoe beingelongated in shape and slidingV in guide 14 between bars 1B-13. At 48 isav pinion mounted on tube v41, and at 49 is aV shoe operating on theupper surface of cam tracks 22-22 and the lower surface p of tracks,Q4-24.

APin 45E-secures an annular cam plate 5() to rod 41, the rod 41 beingrnormally held ina lowered position by means of a spring;- 51: insertedbetween plate 50 and cross bar 52 on frame`7-8-9.

' Securely mounted on tube 41 is a supporting disc 53-'011 which arepivotally mounted Ydependingfingers 54-54-54, eachY nger having:an'upwardly and outwardly extending arm 55-55-55 adapted toeng'a-ge theunder surface of plate 50, the inner supporting stem of each plate beingadapted to en-V gage button 46; as shown Iat: f-l-- These fingers arethree in numberV and so arranged that when in a position to receivefruit as in Figures 1-2 a fingeris positioned at each side and one inthe rear leaving' theY front of the grasping device open to permit theinsertion of a fruit therein;

lt shouldV here be pointed out that the plate 18 is normally held inContact with bars 13-13 by its own weight.l Since plate .18a must alsobe normally held contact with bars 13a-a it is provided with acounterbalance as 18b whereby the desired result is secured; p Y YSupposing, now, the machine to be in operation with the secondaryframe7`8-9 retracted to the limit of its movement and an apricotpositioned by handjon knives 25e-25, the said apricot lying with its pitin a horizontal plane. The frame FV- 8 9 now moves forwardly, the shoe47 holding the parts in Vtheir proper positions until after shoe 49rides down cam tracks 22e- 22 and under tracks 2li-24 whereby the tube41 and parts carried 'thereby' are prevented from rising'. n Y

As the above describedA action takes place the button 45 engages'groove.19 in plate 18 and ridesup said plate thereby drawingr f rod 42upwardly in tube 41 against spring 51 and causing' spreader 46 to engageparts 56-56-56. of fingers 54454-54 and causving` them to open up. At`the same time Y pinion 4SA engages rack 23 thereby causing the wholetube 41 andl parts carried' thereby to make a full half turn with,theiingers 54--54-54 in position to grasp the fruit as hereinbef'oredescribed. Itl is now clear that the openings 1'5-16 in bars l-l'arenecessary to permit the turning of shoe 471 thereby causing' the ,knives25-25'` to cut the apricot all `around upto thefpit, the resilientmounting of.. the' knives permitting them torfollow the outlineofanyform and size of' pit. i

As the backward'movement Aofthe partsV continues the shoe 49 `againrides up onA camv tracksI-QQ-QQ thereby gradually, raising rodf 42 andcarrying the lsplit halfof theapricot upover camr platei 30,v thepinf38; engaging arm 36 and causing points 33 of's ring'ele'f mentsBQ'toproject slightly throng.' notches 31 so-'as-'to engagethepitintheiapricottand' prytlie samelose therefrom; Y

' The grasping` devices new: carryltl'ie; sev

ered apricot past theV ends-of camV plateA 30. where the two halves fallinto a waiting re-V ceptacle not shown. Theforward 'movement of frame 78-9 again moves forwardly andthe-operation is repeated. Y The knives--25 are permitted to move freely to engage apit of any-size or contourby means of pins in plates 26 engagingslots 56 arranged in saidfknivesas shown. Since the leaf springs 27 are xed at their centers 57 eitherVend of the knives may move back wardly or the whole knife may retract'asoccasion demands. Y i

It may now be seen that IV have provided a device that requires only theplacing, by hand of the -apricots in position, the mechanism describedVhalving it, pitting it and returning for another at any desired speed,the whole operation being entirely automatic. v It is to be understood,of course, that while I have herein shown" and described one particularembodiment of my invention, changes may be made inV form', proportion,construction, and method of operation within the scope of the appendedclaims. It is not only desired to cover broadly the mechanism as a wholebut also to cover the several separate mechanisms in which noveltyresides.

l. A fruit lcutting and pitting machine comprising a pair of opposedexpansible :fruitl grasping devices, means for advancing i' andretracting said devices at predetermined intervals, means for expandingand contracting'each of said devices'atpredetermined intervals, apair ofopposed knives having their cuttingedges passing between said fruitgrasping devices, and means for imparting a rotary motion to saiddevices.

2. VA fruit cutting and pitting machine comprising a pair of opposedexpansible Vfruit grasping devices, means for advancing and y,retractingsaid, devices at predetermined intervals, means foi..expanding andcontracting each of said devices` at predetermined intervals, a pairofopposed knives having their cutting edges passing between said fruitlgrasping devices, and means for imparting a rotarymotion to saiddevices, immediately after contraction thereof.

3. A fruit cutting and pitting machine comprising a pair of opposedexpansible fruit grasping devices, means for .advancing and retractingsaid devices at predetermined intervals, means for expanding andcontracting each of said devices at predetermined intervals, a pair ofresiliently mounted opposed knives lying in a plane at right angles tothe axis of said grasping devices and having their cutting edges passingbetween said devices, and means for rotating said devices apredetermined distance.

4L. Ina fruit cutting and pitting machine, a supporting framework, apairof knives pivotally mounted thereon and lying in the same horizontalplane and having their cutting edges in opposed relation to each other,anda resilient support for each end of each knife whereby to normallymaintain said cutting edges in parallel relation to each other. Y

5. In a fruit cutting and pitting machine, a pair of knives lying in thesame plane and having their cutting edges in'opposed relation'to eachother, andhaving slots formed therein at right angles to said edges andin substantially the center of said knives, a stationary pinengagingeach slot, and a leaf spring securediii its center to a fixedsupport back of each knife and having its ends engaging the ends of theadjacent knife.

6. A fruit cutting and pitting machine comprising a frame, a pair ofknives sup` ported thereby and lying in the same plane with theircutting edges opposed in relation to each other, a carriage mounted'toreciprocate on said frame, a pair of opposed expansible fruit, graspingdevices mounted on said carriage and moving on oppositeV sides of saidknives and in close relation thereto, and means for rotating saidgrasping devices a half turn while moving in either direction 'alongsaid knives.

7. A pair of` opposed knives resiliently mounted'in a given plane, apair of opposed expansible fruit grasping devices mounted to`reciprocate in a plane vertical to the plane of said knives and passingmidway therebetween, one on each side of said knives, and normallypositioned near one end thereof, means for expanding said graspingdevices when approaching said normal position and means for contractingsaid devices atthe moment of returning to said normal position.

8. A pair of opposed knives resiliently mounted in a given plane, a pairof opposed expansible fruit grasping devices mounted to reciprocate in aplane vertical to the plane of said knives and passing midwaytherebetween, one on each side of 4 said knives` and normallyYpositioned near one end thereof, means for expanding said graspingdevices when approaching said normal position and means for contractingsaid devices at the moment of returning to` said normal position, and apit removing de-V vice operatively mounted in travel of said devices.

9. A pair of opposed knives resiliently mounted in a given plane, a pairof opposed expansible fruit grasping devices mounted to reciprocate in aplane vertical to the plane of said knives and passing midwaytherebetween, one on each side of said knives, and normally positionednear one end thereof, means for expanding said grasping devices whenapproaching said normal position and means for contracting said devicesat the moment of returning to said normal posithe path of n.ftigoin` ajpairot` opposed spring `elements mounted in nxed relation to said knivesand adjacent the path ot travel of said devices, andvmeans forprojecting saidspring v4ele.- ment a distance intopthevpath of travel ofsaid devices at a given point in their move.- ment away from said normalposition.

10. A pair of opposed knives, resiliently mounted in V a given plane, anexpansifble fruit. grasping` device mounted to reciprocate adjacent saidknives in a plane vertice-Lto the plane of; said knives and passingmidway therebetween, means tor expanding said device as itapproaches theend of its path of travel adjacent said knives, and means forcontracting said device at the end ot its path oi!- travei adjacent saidknives.

11. A pair ot opposed knives resiliently mounted in a gi ven plane anexpansible fruit gras-ping device mounted to reciprocate adjacent saidknives in av plane vertical tothe plane ot' said knives and passingmidway therebetween, means Afor retractinp; said4 de vice from the plane0'1": said knives as it ap'- proa'ches one end of its path nl: travel,and returning the same to its former positionne it returns tov the"forward end oi its path of travel, means for expanding said device asitY approachesthe forward end of its path or travel, means forcontracting said device asitreachesfsaid forward end ot i'tsipatli oftravel, and a pit removing devicev arrrangred in' the path o travel ofsaid device at the point Where the same is retractedl i'romtlie plane*of said'knives 12A fruit grasping device comprising" arod andv meansforadvancing andretractthe same, a spreader element mounted-- on one endthereof, a fingeractuatingr device mounted thereon a distanceV from saidspread'- er, ya support intermediate said-spreader and actuating device,and a j ilurality'i of fingers p-i-votally mountedt on said supportivhereby,

to befexpanded' said spreader whenk said, rod' 1s movedin onedirectionand contracted said? actuating' device when said" rod ismovedinthe opposite direction.

., A fruit grasping device comprisingv'a rodgand means :for advancingland' retracting theV same, a spreader element Amounted en oneiendjthereof, a linger' actuating device mounted thereon. a distance -ffromIsaid spreader, a .support intermediate .said spread:r er and actuatingdevice, andravpluralityot lingers pivotally mounted on saidnsupport,each finger earryingwan outvvardlyextending arm engageable- With saidfactuating .device when the same, is advanced to close said fingers. Y ui 14;. Avifr, it grasping device comprisingva supporting frame, atubular element mounted thereon, resilient means tor advancing saidtube, means arranged on said tube and engaging said frame forlimitingthe advance movement of said tube, a, rod' mounted fory axialmovement in said tube', means. for limiting said4 axial movement, Jfruitgrasping fingers pivotally mounted on said tube, means operated by theVmovement of said tube in one directionv for contracting said fingers,and means operated by the movement of said rod inv the oppositedirection tor expanding said lingers'.

15. A fruit grasping device comprising a Supporting,` frame, a tubularelement mount` eil/thereon, resilient means for ad'vancingr said tube,means arranged on said tube and engagingsaid iram'e VforV limiting theadvance movement ot said tube, a rod mounted for axial movement in saidtube, means for limitingl saidaxialf movement, fruit grasping fingerspivotally mounted on said tube, means operated by the nio-vement of saidtube inone direction for contracting' said iingers,A means operated-bythev movement Vot said 4r'od in the opposite direction` for YenpendingAsaid'iingers, and; means forV alter#v n'atcly actuating said tubef and"rod in op? posite directions.`

in. a frustrating ssa,partageaient" comprising a pair of opposedexpansible fruit grasping devices, means` for advancf ing andrretr'acting,saidbdevices4 at predeter-V mined intervals,means'-Irendered operable by Said advancing` and retrac'ting means forexpandingandf contracting each ofsaid 4devices-, apair of opposed kniveshaving their; cuttingA edgeswpassingfz between said fruitV graspingdevices, and means ior imparting` a rotary motion to; said devices.

.mains Tn'nnnn

